Winning runs in Cougars ‘family’

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This article was published 25/02/2025 (206 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Another successful regular season is in the books up for the Assiniboine College Cougars women’s hockey team, but now the real work starts.

Following this past weekend’s trouncing of the North Dakota State University Bison, the Cougars are riding the wave of not only another strong weekend of hockey, but also a great start to 2025.

The team just concluded another stellar season, recording 22 wins, two losses and two ties. Both losses came on the road, the first back in November to Saint Thomas and the second one to the University of Jamestown in early January.

Since then they rattled off 10 wins in a row, which followed a pair of ties, meaning just one loss so far in 2025.

If they want to make another run at a title, they’ll need to maintain their winning ways.

“My closing comments at the end of Sunday’s game was that our ultimate goal is to bring a championship back to the city, with that being said it’s time to regroup, dwell on the fact that we’ve had a good year but don’t dwell on it too much so that we can re-group and get focused for the next challenge,” said head coach David Kirkup.

The first-year coach of the Cougars inherited a great lineup as he acknowledged at the mid-point of the season, but he’s really grown to love the group in the second half of the season with how the team has continued to progress to the squad’s ultimate goal of reclaiming the American Collegiate Hockey Association Div 2 national championship.

He and lead assistant coach Charles Tweed have been putting in the work with the hope the team will not show any signs of slowing down, keep their feet firmly on the gas pedal the next two weeks as they get set to make the trip south of the border to St. Louis.

“When we started this year we wanted better transitional game and puck movement in the neutral zone. We’ve done a good job of that this year, but if we want to get the job done and hit the ultimate goal we need those things intact,” said Kirkup.

“When we get to nationals every game is important and we need to play a full 60 minutes no matter who we play… I think we’re prepared, but the next two weeks will really tell the tale.”

Being the final regular season home games for graduating Cougars, added emotions were on full display.

All three players interviewed for this story used the word “family” to describe this team, unbeknownst to each other, but revealed in expressing they feel about this team following Sunday’s win.

“Our connections have really grown as a team. Seeing each other as family instead of teammates has been our thing this year. We know where every one is on the ice and you can see how confident we are,” said Kaitlyn Fouillard of Miniota.

Fouillard is one of 13 who has likely played their final home games as Cougars.

Likely because all have eligibility left, but the majority of the grads have played three years with the team, often earning multiple diplomas in Assiniboine’s one and two-year academic programs.

Kathryn Fischer agrees, pointing out how she doesn’t want the ride to end.

“It’s kinda killing me but I also know at some point I gotta go,” Fisher said.

“I know with this team and with this sport I’ll be involved for the rest of my life. It will just be different. A lot on our team are feeling that right now. With this team, particularly this year, we truly are a family.

“We’re all there for each other. That truly is the way the team is.”

Captain Megan Carnegie is another third-year player set to graduate, and points to the time the team spends together as reason for the family-like bond.

“We travel together, we practise every week together, some of us even live together. We spend so much time together that family aspect has just kind of clicked. We’re working for each other. When we’re all working our hardest you feel that connection and everyone supporting you, so it’s just a great feeling and I’m really happy that we’re able to be such a tight-knit group,” said Carnegie.

The familial aspect has almost created a problem for the coaching staff, although a good problem to have.

“We have an unbelievable leadership group. Probably one of the hardest teams I’ve coached in terms of picking players to put letters on the front of their uniforms,” said Kirkup.

“They all have bought in. They’re all super good leaders and I can’t say enough good things about our entire graduating group of players.”

The two-time ACHA champion Cougars should enter the national tournament as the top seed in the West Division, because they have held the Division 2 top ranking since mid-January’s split with Sault College in which the Cougars won 3-2 on Jan. 18 before playing to a 1-1 tie the following day.

It’s been three years since the last title for Assiniboine hockey, and six years since the first, so not one member of this year’s team has been a part of the championship pedigree that program has been built on since inception about a decade ago.

But they all remember last year’s finale all-too well.

After reaching last year’s ACHA final but falling to eventual champions in Sault College, the memory of defeat is serving as added motivation entering this year’s tournament.

“It’s gonna take everything we have,” said Fischer.

“I know that sounds cliche, but … having lost in the semis and then the final (last year) was heartbreaking. Seeing the girls hang up the skates for the final time, I was so sorry that we lost for them, because it was their time. Now I’m feeling that a little, so I know it’s going to take everything we have and all of us pulling on that rope as one.”

“It’s gonna be a grind, these next couple weeks,” Carnegie added.

“We’ll spend a lot of time in the gym, practising a lot, giving everything we got. It will really show what we’re made of once that tournament starts, and we’re ready to work for each other.”

Fouillard led the team in scoring again this year, finishing with 16 goals and 14 assists for a team-high 30 points, but was quick to point out that filling the net is just one way she can help the team.

“It’s not about the goals. It’s about being the best teammate and linemate I can. Those just come with some luck I guess you could say,” Fouillard said with a laugh.

“It’s looking out for everyone. You don’t mess with my linemates. You don’t mess with our goalies, our coaches, anyone. Once you develop that family it becomes a lot more personal.”

Fouillard’s post-game comments came as she wiped away tears following post-game hugs to family and friends in attendance as well as teammates playing their final home games together.

The festivities that come with some finality to Fouillard and the other seniors is bittersweet, but they’re also focusing on the fact their work isn’t done yet.

“I’ve been so happy with these three years. The team, the city, the school, I couldn’t be happier with coming to Assiniboine,” said Fouillard.

“With Assiniboine’s two national championships, which are great, looking at this team… the girls have the experience to get it done. It’s going to take a lot of grit, a lot of determination, we just have to stay focused and dedicated.”

The team departs March 19 and its first game should come the following day.

The final schedule of the ACHA national championship has not been set yet, but all games will be played out of the Centene Community Ice Centre in St. Louis, Mo.

» mpackwood@brandonsun.com